NBC okays first health radio station

National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has granted Wash 94.9 FM an operational licence to broadcast health-related news in different indigenous languages, making it the first health-centric radio station in the country.

The Zonal Director of NBC, Lagos, Ralph Akpan, announced the approval at the commissioning of the radio station that took place over the weekend in Lagos.

He commended the efforts of the founder for setting up such initiative, acknowledging that it would help promote health knowledge and wellbeing of every citizen of the country.

He said: “If you consider the harsh economy, people going to the hospital may find it very tough doing that now. However, with health communication, there are some little health issues that could be discussed that only a simple analgesic would solve the problem. If we don’t have such initiative, we find out that people may end up dying for what they can easily get information about and work on.”

According to the founder of the radio station, Prof. Ronke Ogunmakin, the essence of the radio station is to impact the community through creating awareness on crucial health issues across the country.

She added that health remained one of the critical parts of human existence that could not be trivialised.

In his remarks, Chairman of the event, Toba Akinmoladun, stressed that the station aimed at helping Nigerians make better choices about their health, urging them to show interest in the station by tuning in to clarify any doubt they might have regarding health concerns.